Henkel has reported increased sales of 11.4 percent to 3,668 million euros in the second quarter of 2008. Sales increased by 44.9 percent to 432 million euros in the Asia Pacific region, due primarily to the businesses acquired from National Starch. Organic growth, also supported by all business sectors, was 6.6 percent. The share of total sales accounted for by the region grew by 3 percentage points to 12 percent.
According to the company, organic growth in the Adhesive Technologies business sector mounted to a highly encouraging 7.9 percent. Nominal sales rose by 26.1 percent to 1,816 million euros, and by 34,6 percent after adjusting for foreign exchange, due primarily to the acquisition of the Adhesives and Electronic Materials businesses of National Starch. Operating profit increased by 21.1 percent to 195 million euros, and by 29.3 percent after adjusting for foreign exchange. The performance of the National Starch businesses eased slightly in the face of a slowdown in the semiconductor and electronic products markets.
